Abstract
The Planet Formation Imager (PFI) project aims to provide a strong scientific vision for ground-based optical astronomy beyond the upcoming generation of Extremely Large Telescopes. We make the case that a breakthrough in angular resolution imaging capabilities is required in order to unravel the processes involved in planet formation. PFI will be optimised to provide a complete census of the protoplanet population at all stellocentric radii and over the age range from 0.1 to ∼100 Myr. Within this age period, planetary systems undergo dramatic changes and the final architecture of planetary systems is determined. Our goal is to study the planetary birth on the natural spatial scale where the material is assembled, which is the "Hill Sphere" of the forming planet, and to characterise the protoplanetary cores by measuring their masses and physical properties. Our science working group has investigated the observational characteristics of these young protoplanets as well as the migration mechanisms that might alter the system architecture. We simulated the imprints that the planets leave in the disk and study how PFI could revolutionise areas ranging from exoplanet to extragalactic science. In this contribution we outline the key science drivers of PFI and discuss the requirements that will guide the technology choices, the site selection, and potential science/technology tradeoffs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging V |
| Editors | Fabien Malbet, Michelle J. Creech-Eakman, Peter G. Tuthill |
| Place of Publication | Bellingham, WA |
| Publisher | SPIE |
| Pages | 1-12 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781510601949 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781510601932 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging V - Edinburgh, United Kingdom Duration: 27 Jun 2016 → 1 Jul 2016 |
Publication series
| Name | Proceedings of SPIE |
|---|---|
| Publisher | SPIE |
| Volume | 9907 |
| ISSN (Print) | 0277-786X |
| ISSN (Electronic) | 1996-756X |
Other
| Other | Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging V |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
| City | Edinburgh |
| Period | 27/06/16 → 1/07/16 |
Bibliographical note
Copyright 2016 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.Keywords
- extrasolar planets
- high angular resolution imaging
- interferometry
- planet formation
- protoplanetary disks
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